A source inside a group called the Australian Progressives has told NoFibs they’re in the final stages of preparing to register as a political party with the Australian Electoral Commission. No Fibs has been provided with the names of some people involved in setting up Australia’s soon to be newest political party on the condition we keep the information confidential at this stage. However we can confirm some of the people involved in the creation of the new party are highly respected giants of public life in this country. No Fibs believes the new party will register with the AEC (within a few weeks) as Australian Progressives and they already […]

Welcome. We come together today because we are conscious of the many challenges we face in the 21st century. We are here because we understand that to meet these challenges we must see beyond the short term, beyond the election cycle, and beyond traditional party loyalties. The biggest challenges facing humanity today are global; they are no respecter of borders and national identities. Climate change, refugees, economics, education, health and human rights are all best addressed when we first think globally and then act locally. The problem is, like many other countries, we deceive ourselves, addressing global issues as domestic problems and as short-term political opportunities. We are here […]

Dean Sewell and Margo Kingston at #BentleyBlockade (At the time of the interview on April 30 the #BentleyBlockade was the subject of shouting matches in NSW Parliament as the Labor Opposition Party belatedly tackled new Premier Mike Baird over his plans to unleash riot police on thousands of peaceful farmers and townies. Senior police had confirmed that a riot squad deployment of up to 700 fully kitted out storm-troopers would arrive soon. Social and local print media was roaring with anger at this affront to democracy, food and water security.) Underneath a small marquee in the heart of the Bentley anti-coal seam gas protest camp I’m sipping lime cordial with […]

During #MarchInMarch homeless man Bobby with his trusty mate Buster the dog approached me and asked if I wanted a story. He told me they’ve been living on the streets of Melbourne for 10 years waiting for public housing. Bobby invited Prime Minister Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) to sleep rough with him for one night on the streets of Melbourne to experience homelessness. On Tuesday, while Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey (@JoeHockey) was dancing over the early graves of Australia’s disadvantaged and aged who won’t be able to afford medical care, Abbott was putting the finishing touches on plans for thousands across the country to join Bobby and Buster on the […]

A cross-post with the Australian Independent Media Network. The Marches in March continue to glow with controversy. Never did so few gather so many, without engaging the usual suspects of the old media, the political parties, NGOs, the unions and the activist groups. There had to be a dark side to these events. The people can’t have minds of their own! Or if they do they must be warped! Tim Dunlop has joined the fray with a post at The Drum: Rage against the mainstream The fact is, the media’s lame response to an estimated 100,000 citizens showing up on the streets around the country is indicative of a deeper malaise: […]

I started writing this on Tuesday, March 18, 2014, on a flight home after attending March in March (MiM) Melbourne last Sunday, and MiM Canberra on Monday, March 17. I am still giving thanks, six days later, for the miracle that ensured MiM 2014 was a great success, that the vision I had for the marches became, in the main, a reality. Over 100,000 Australians marched in a collective, peaceful protest, with only one arrest reported. Magical. If people wanted this to happen, they would need to become involved: make the leap from ‘slacktivism’ as keyboard warriors to activism. On the night of Monday, March 17, I was confident a ‘Statement of […]

[clear] By Jim McCool @coolmccool Last Sunday, despite a thunderstorm and torrential downpours, thousands of Sydneysiders joined the #MarchInMarch protests. According to some media reports, this was a march of leftist extremists, the usual parade of tree-huggers and soap-dodgers. I do not believe that to be the case. I was there. My family was there. I have a full time job, I commute to the CBD from the suburbs every day, my kids are in full time education. We saw plenty of other ordinary families just like us. Mums with push-chairs, dads with toddlers on their shoulders and many older people. From what I saw with my own eyes, this march […]

Story & Photos by Trevor Worsley @WorsleyTrevor 23rd March 2014 I am not a political activist. I have never been to a protest or demonstration of any kind. I had long considered myself a swinging voter, trying at each election to make decisions based on issues and not slogans or political spin. Gradually, over the past few years, I have been becoming disengaged with the political process in this country. This is, in the main, because both sides of politics seem to be less and less interested in the things that matter to the grass roots of the community and much more interested in playing ideology wars with their opposing number. […]